Open Access and Data Management Policy (the Policy) FAQs 1. What is open access? Open access means the immediate, irrevocable, unrestricted and free online access by any user worldwide to the information products produced by CGIAR, and unrestricted re-use of content (which may need to be restricted to non-commercial use and/or granted subject to appropriate licences in line with the CGIAR IA Principles), subject to proper attribution. For example, an open access publication is one that is free-to-view for all users to, subject to attribution of authorship. Specifically, a complete version of the work and associated permissions should be deposited in a standard electronic format in a suitable online, open access repository immediately on publication. 2. Do we have to publish only in open access journals? No. The Policy is very clear in stating that researchers are free to publish in the journal most appropriate to their needs. There is no requirement to publish in open access journals because researchers know where best to publish and should not be constrained to a few open access journal titles. As a minimum, researchers should, in the future, arrange for post-print versions to be stored in institutional repositories. This allows researchers to publish where they want to (e.g. subscription-only / hybrid journals) but for the content to be discoverable in our institutional repositories. It also allows for open access to be purchased via article processing fees (and for such fees to be built into the funding application stage). This is a rapidly evolving area and our scientists that they should never feel pressured into choosing a journal purely because it offers immediate open access. That is not what this policy is about; it is not in the interests of researchers, science or our overall research project. 3. How does this differ from current practices? Open access is compatible with copyright, peer review, revenue (even profit), print, preservation, prestige, quality, career-advancement, indexing, and other features and supportive services associated with conventional scholarly literature. The primary difference is that the bills are not paid by readers and hence do not function as access barriers. 4. What are the benefits of open access? Open access enhances the visibility of research findings as CGIAR content will be made freely available and can be accessed by all researchers, and not just those based at an institution that subscribes to a particular journal. The overall project aims to provides innovative tools and services for the ag4dev research community: a single open.cgiar.org portal search to CGIAR information products, journals, books, data, and spatial information and other relevant content, together with the
integration of text-mining tools, which highlight and link biological entity types found within the text of an article to external data sources. 5. What is the purpose of the Policy? The OA Policy builds on the CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets, which mandates the prompt and broad dissemination of research outputs. The OA Policy gives further detailed guidance on what this means in the content of traditional research outputs and data. This policy was adopted by the CB on 2 October 2013 and applies to all information products produced by the CGIAR Consortium, its members and their partners within the scope of the Strategy and Results Framework ( SRF ) and the CGIAR Research Programs ( CRPs ). 6. What type of information products are covered by this Policy? This Policy sets common expectations with respect to open access to the following indicative types of information products ( information products ): peer-reviewed journal articles; reports and other papers; books and book chapters; data and databases; data collection and analysis tools (e.g. models and survey tools); video, audio and images; computer software; web services (e.g. data portals, modelling on-line platforms); and metadata associated with the information products above. 7. How will CGIAR monitor compliance with the Policy? CGIAR will conduct evidence-based annual reviews of implementation and compliance with the Policy throughout the implementation phase of the Policy. This will include actively monitoring the papers authored by our researchers to ensure that they comply with our policy, including through the review of publications listed in CRP reporting. 8. What is the implementation phase of the Policy? The transition period runs from the effective date of the Policy for an initial period of 5 years, with comprehensive implementation by the end of 2018. 9. How will Open Access costs be met? The attached Concept Note sets out specific plans regarding initial funding for the project. Open Access costs should also be incorporated into the 2 nd call for CRPs. 10. Who can I contact for more information and/or help? If you have any queries about this policy and its implementation please email open@cgiar.org.
CGIAR Open Access and Data Management Policy Data Management Implementation FAQs 1. What constitutes data covered by a Data Management Plan? The Open Access Policy defines data as the digital recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings, including data sets used to support publications and/or that have been prepared and validated but that do not support publications. This does not include laboratory notebooks, preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer review reports, communications with colleagues, or physical objects, such as laboratory specimens. 2. Is a plan for Data Management required if my project is not expected to generate data or samples? Yes. It is acceptable to state in the Data Management Plan that the project is not anticipated to generate data or samples that require management and/or sharing. 3. Am I always required to deposit my data in a suitable repository? You are required to ensure that all data is stored safely so that it may be accessed by your colleagues should you leave your research group. However, not all data that is stored should always be loaded into repositories that are accessible by the public. For example, it is understood that certain types of information are not appropriate for sharing (e.g. household data where individuals can be identified or where consent to data sharing has been withheld). What constitutes reasonable data management and access will be determined by the CRP through the process of peer review and program management. In many cases, these standards already exist, but are likely to evolve as new technologies and resources become available. 4. There is no suitable repository for my type of data. What can I do to provide data access? Contact the relevant CRP data management officer for assistance in this situation. Ensure that your data is stored and backed up and is accessible by your research group in the first instance. 5. Does this policy mean that I must make my data available immediately, even before publication? Not necessarily. The expectation is that all data will be made available within 12 months of completion of data collection. 6. What are CGIAR expectations regarding the release of data that include sensitive information (e.g., personal information about individuals or price-sensitive data)? Any data sharing is subject to the legal rights and legitimate interests of stakeholders and third parties, including intellectual property rights, confidentiality, sensitivity (including price and politically sensitive information) and privacy. Therefore, such data should be stored and protected in accordance with appropriate standards for protecting privacy rights and maintaining the confidentiality of respondents. Within legal constraints, what constitutes
reasonable data access will be determined by the research group through the process program management. 7. My data include information of potential commercial value. Am I required to make that information available? Not necessarily. Please refer to the CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets, which sets out details of where certain restrictions may be sought. It is CGIAR s strong expectation that researchers will share with other researchers, at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time, the primary data, samples, physical collections and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of CRP work. However, it may also be necessary to protect intellectual property rights by reference to the CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets. 8. If data or samples are requested before I have completed all analyses on them, must I share them? Not necessarily. The expectation is that all data will be made available after 12 months, which is the default period of exclusivity for researchers. 9. What is a digital repository? A digital repository stores, maintains, and disseminates digital materials for a given community. Some communities are organised by subject (e.g. Cassavabase) while others are organised by institution (e.g. ICRISAT s repository). The repository provides online archival storage usually open access and cares for digital materials, ensuring that they remain readable for as long as the repository survives. 10. Why would I put my data in a digital repository? 1. Raise the impact of your research. Digital repositories allow you to make data easily accessible to more people than ever before. The more people who can use your data, the more public good it can do and the more it can do to enrich your field of research. Open online access makes new collaborations and uses of data possible. 2. Raise your research profile. The more other researchers cite your data, the more they will understand your work. As the trend toward online open access rises, the prestige associated with data citations is growing. In addition, making data available can increase the credibility of your analyses. 3. Keep your data safe and readable in the long term. Many repositories store and back up your research products and will, if appropriate file formats are used, attempt to move the data into new file formats as the original formats become obsolete. So long as the repository exists, your materials will remain readable and usable. 4. Your funder may require it. This is more and more common. You can find summary of funders open access requirements using
the SHERPA/JULIET database. Even if your funder does not require that you deposit your data, a plan to deposit your data may strengthen your grant. 11. I worked hard to collect this data! Doesn t this give someone else the chance to use my data before me? There is definitely a trade-off. Depositing in a repository is a way of publishing your digital materials as well as maintaining them. You can submit your data at the end of a project (when it is easiest to pull the data together) but embargo (restrict access) its release for 12 months. It may be possible to store part of a set of materials publically and will maintain the other, more proprietary parts while keeping them hidden and inaccessible.